About Our Chapter

Our Team Safe Families for Children is staffed by four experienced leaders. Dr. Janet Cockrum launched the East TN ministry in 2011. She continues in her role as chapter director. Cara Foster and her family hosted over 50 children before she joined the team as Case Coach Supervisor. Katie Loftin brings years of experience in volunteer work, helping families in our community. As a Family Coach, she helps provide support to single mothers who live in the residential rehab home that Safe Families partners with. Kathryn Ann Laux comes to us from Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church, where she served as the Local Mission Director. She now utilizes her experience of mobilizing the church in her role as the Church and Community Engagement Lead with Safe Families for Children. This dynamic team wears multiple hats and is known for their contagious enthusiasm and love for moms and children who need help connecting to community resources. The engine behind Safe Families is our faith communities and their volunteers. Our volunteers are a priceless resource, providing transformative support to East TN families in difficult life situations. Tennessee is known as The Volunteer State, and the Safe Families ministry is driven by the volunteers who not only host children but also actively engage in relationships, being a support to the families we minister to.

Our Churches

Our churches play a significant role in recruiting and supporting their members to serve and reach out to parents who are in crisis situations. Churches of all sizes and various denominations are actively engaged in the ministry. Our volunteers come from the smallest to the largest congregations. They are motivated to bring the love and compassion of Jesus to their neighbors and to show practical, authentic love, kindness, and to bring hope!

Our Families

We currently have forty-nine approved Host Families, but we are always looking for more families to help us meet the needs of families who call us for help. Another team of volunteers provides services of transportation, mentoring, employment assistance, or when needed, tangible items such as diapers, baby equipment, prayer, dental assistance, as well as food and medical assistance. There are many ways to support and engage in our ministry. Please reach out to us to find out how YOU might be called to serve! We would love to hear from you.